Fruitvale Station (2013) - Jack O'Brien

Fruitvale Station (2013) is an American Drama that retells the story of Oscar Grant’s murder by oakland BART police. The film, Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, has been more or less absent from mainstream awards despite widespread critical acclaim.

Fruitvale Station retells the events of Oscar Grant’s life in the days leading up to his eventual murder. The film dramatizes certain events, like Oscar’s altercation with another inmate during a visit with his mother, or him caring for a dog which has just been hit by a car. For the most part, however, director Coogler has gone to great lengths to ensure that the film accurately depicts the events of Grant’s life, and those that occured at Fruitvale Station.

Unlike most biographical films, it is difficult to make commentary of Jordan’s portrayal of Grant, as we don’t have much knowledge of Grant, or the type of person he was. Grant was, after all, a normal person like you and I. All that aside, Jordan does a wonderful job of portraying a man who is about to turn his life around. Jordan’s strength in that department is what makes this film enthralling. Seeing Grant’s seemingly bleak looking situation slowly get better, culminating in his Mother’s birthday is what keeps viewers interested. The enthralling nature of the film is what gives it power. Those oblivious to the events that transpired to prompt the film’s creation will be shocked by it. Those who knew of the events will be moved, and will see a new face of the man killed by the police that night.

The media seems to portray Oscar Grant in one of two different lights. One, an angel who has done nothing wrong and was brutally murdered by BART police one night. Or, as a demon who sold drugs and was imprisoned five times, who got what he deserved that night. Grant, in reality, was like I said earlier, a person like you or me. The film doesn’t see Grant as either of those extremes, but as a person. I think the real power in the film comes from restoring that humanity to Grant that has been absent from media portrayal. People will think twice about their feelings of the events that transpired at Fruitvale station, and will hopefully think twice about Grant.